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FIU: (4-7, 4-3 C-USA) (2-2 away) |
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Old Dominion: (8-3, 6-1 C-USA) (5-0 home) |
Date: Nov. 26, 2016
Location: Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium (Astroturf) (20,118) in Norfolk, Virginia.
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET
Press Box Phone: 757-683-3842
Television: N/A
Radio: 1210 AM - Josh Appel (play-by-play) and Wes Carroll (color analyst) on the call. Fans can listen by tuning into 1210 on their AM dial
Live Stats: www.ODUSports.com
Live Video Streaming: ESPN3
Tickets: 305.FIU.GAME (348.4263) -or- www.FIUSports.com
Records: FIU enters Saturday's game with a 4-7 (4-3 C-USA) record following a 31-14 win over Marshall on Saturday, Nov. 19. Old Dominion comes into this week's action with an 8-3 (6-1 C-USA) mark after a 42-24 win at Florida Atlantic on Saturday, Nov. 19.
FIU Interim Head Coach Ron Cooper: Cooper (Jacksonville State, 1983) is in his first season as interim head coach (4-3, .571) and 10th season overall as a head coach (48-59, .448). Cooper is 26-36 as an FBS head coach and 22-23 as an FCS head coach. He has never faced Old Dominion.
Old Dominion Head Coach Bobby Wilder: Wilder (Maine, 1987) is in his eighth season at Old Dominion (65-30, .684). Wilder is 1-1 all-time versus the Panthers.
Series History: Saturday will mark the third meeting all-time between the two programs with the series tied at 1-1. The last meeting between the two teams resulted in a 41-12 win for the Panthers on Oct. 24, 2015, in Miami, Florida.
Game 12 – FIU Travels to Old Dominion for Season Finale
The FIU football team will travel to Norfolk, Virginia, to take on the Old Dominion Monarchs in the 2016 season finale this Saturday, Nov. 26. Kickoff from Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium is set for 3:30 p.m. with the game airing on ESPN3. Fans can also listen to the game on 1210 AM with Josh Appel (play-by-play) and Wes Carroll (color analyst) in the booth all season long.
FIU is coming off a 31-14 win over Marshall last Saturday. The Panthers rattled off 516 yards of total offense (10th-most in school history), including 259 yards on the ground (eighth-most in school history). The Panthers had a pair of running backs record over 100 yards in the game (second time this season) as
Anthony Jones rushed for 121 yards on 17 carries and one touchdown and
Alex Gardner gained 119 yards on 14 carries with two touchdowns. The 100-yard game marked the second of Jones' career, while Gardner became the school's all-time leading rusher (2,219). FIU used two quarterbacks in the game as
Maurice Alexander threw for 204 yards on 14-of-20 passing, while
Christian Alexander connected with
A.J. Branisel for his third touchdown pass of the season. Freshman receivers
Darrius Scott and
Stantley Thomas led FIU as Scott grabbed four passes for 46 yards and Thomas registered 87 yards receiving on three catches.
Defensively, FIU held Marshall to 78 yards rushing (the fewest allowed this season). The Panthers were led by linebackers
Treyvon Williams and
Anthony Wint who posted 11 and eight tackles, respectively. Defensive lineman
Fermin Silva notched a career-high two sacks as the Panthers totaled six sack in the game. FIU also collected two interceptions versus the Herd as
Niko Gonzalez registered his first of the season and
Isaiah Brown grabbed his second of the year.
The win marked the Panthers' first over the Thundering Herd in the five-game series history.
FIU enters this week's action, averaging 23.6 points-per-game and 388.3 yards of total offense-per-contest. Gardner leads all Panthers with 877 yards on 171 carries and six touchdowns. Averaging 5.1 yards-per-carry, Gardner's 877 yards on the ground ranks No. 3 all-time at FIU for rushing yards in a season. Behind Gardner is Jones, who has recorded 520 yards on 103 carries and four touchdowns. The Panthers enter Saturday's game with 1,686 yards on the ground this season (fourth-most in school history).
Through the air, wide receiver
Thomas Owens leads FIU with 45 catches for 634 yards and seven touchdowns. Tight end
Jonnu Smith has recorded 40 catches for 456 yards and three touchdowns this season. The native of Ocala, Florida, enters Saturday's game having caught a pass in 42-straight contests.
Linebackers Williams and Wint lead the team in tackles. Williams comes into this weekend's action with 103 total tackles (61 solo) which ranks No. 2 in the conference and No. 21 in the nation. Wint has tallied 98 total tackles (56 solo) this season (No. 7 in the conference and No. 35 nationally). Williams' 103 tackles ranks sixth all-time at FIU for tackles in a season, while Wint's 98 comes in at eighth. Wint also enters the Old Dominion game ranked No. 9 in career tackles (234) at FIU.
Saturday will mark the third meeting all-time between FIU and Old Dominion with the series tied at 1-1. It will also mark Interim Head Coach
Ron Cooper's first meeting with the Monarchs.
Game Notables
- Saturday will be the final game for the Panthers this season.
- FIU will look to improve to 5-7 on the year.
- FIU will look to improve to 5-3 in C-USA action on the year.
- FIU will look to improve to 20-31 all-time in the month of November.
- Saturday will mark the eighth game for Interim Head Coach
Ron Cooper at FIU (4-3).
- Saturday will mark Cooper's 108th game as a college head coach (both FBS and FCS).
- Saturday will mark the third meeting all-time between FIU and Old Dominion.
- The series is tied, 1-1
- The Panthers won the last meeting between the two teams with a 41-12 victory on Oct. 24, 2015 in Miami, Florida.
- FIU is 26-39 all-time versus teams from Conference USA.
- FIU will look to improve to 2-1 all-time versus teams from the state of Virginia.
- Coach Cooper will face a team from Virginia for the first time.
- FIU will be looking to record its 21st road victory all-time on Saturday.
- Saturday will mark the 178th game in FIU history.
- Saturday will mark Coach Cooper's first meeting with Old Dominion.
Ron Cooper Named Interim Head Coach
On Sunday, Sept. 25,
Ron Cooper was named interim head coach of the FIU football team. Cooper, who entered the year as the team's defensive coordinator also served as the team's defensive backs coach in 2015.
This marks Cooper's fourth head coaching stint (Eastern Michigan – 1993-1994; Louisville – 1995-1997; Alabama A&M – 1998-2001). Saturday will mark his 108th game as a collegiate head coach (FBS and FCS).
All-Time Leading Rusher
On Saturday, Nov. 19, junior
Alex Gardner became FIU's all-time leading rusher following an 18-yard run in the fourth quarter of the Panthers' 31-14 win over Marshall. Entering the game, Gardner needed 96 yards to pass then-record holder Rashod Smith (2002-04), who had recorded 2,195 yards during his FIU career. Gardner surpassed that total, notching 119 yards on 14 carries to move the Jacksonville, Florida, native career mark to 2,219.
Going for Five
With FIU's 31-14 win over Marshall on Saturday, Nov. 19, FIU improved to 4-3 for the first time in league play since joining Conference USA in 2013. The four conference wins are the most since 2011, going 5-3 in Sun Belt Conference action.
Offensive Explosion
On Saturday, Oct. 29, FIU produced a season-high 517 yards of total offense versus the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders. The total was the ninth-most in school history and the most since the Panthers put up 518 versus UTEP last season (10/10/15).
Three weeks later, the Panthers put up 516 yards versus Marshall, including 259 yards on the ground.
Controlling the Clock
During FIU's game versus Middle Tennessee on Oct. 29, 2016, the Panthers held a nearly 20-minute advantage in time of possession. FIU's time of possession in the game was 39:32 – the third-highest TOP in school history. The Panthers have made it a point to control the clock in 2016. Entering Saturday's game with Old Dominion, FIU ranks second in the conference and 33rd in the nation in time of possession, averaging 31:45.
2,000-Yard Club
On Saturday, Oct. 29, junior
Alex Gardner became the third running back in FIU history to reach the 2,000-yard rushing mark. The Jacksonville, Florida, native sits atop on the school's all-time rushers list after breaking the school record on Saturday, Nov. 19, held by Rashod Smith (2,195 - 2002-04).
1. 2,219
Alex Gardner - 2014-present
2. 2,195 Rashod Smith - 2002-04
3. 2,156 Kedrick Rhodes - 2010-12
Consecutive Catches - 42
Senior
Jonnu Smith enters Saturday's game with a pass reception in 42-consecutive games. That ranks him for the seventh-longest streak in the nation.
| Robert Davis, Georgia State |
48 |
| Corey Davis, Western Michigan |
47 |
| Zach Pascal, Old Dominion |
47 |
| Zay Jones, East Carolina |
46 |
| Nate Phillips, Arizona |
44 |
| Taquan Mizzell, Virginia |
44 |
| Jonnu Smith, FIU |
42 |
| Ronnie Moore, Bowling Green |
41 |
| River Carcraft, Washington State |
39 |
| JuJu Smith-Schuster, USC |
39 |
| Trent Taylor, Louisiana Tech |
38 |
| Christian McCaffrey, Stanford |
36 |
| Corey Jones, Toledo |
36 |
| Josh Reynolds, Texas A&M |
36 |
| Jordan Westerkamp, Nebraska |
35 |
| KD Cannon, Baylor |
35 |
| Cam Serigne, Wake Forest |
34 |
| Allen Lazard, Iowa State |
35 |
| Thomas Sperbeck, Boise State |
34 |
| Artavis Scott, Clemson |
34 |
| Fred Ross, Mississippi State |
33 |
| Amara Darboh, Michigan |
31 |
| Jaylen Samuels, NC State |
31 |
| Tanner Gentry, Wyoming |
30 |
| James Washington, Oklahoma State |
30 |
| Nicholas Norris, Western Kentucky |
29 |
| Keon Hatcher, Arkansas |
29 |
| Travis Rudolph, Florida State |
29 |
| Ryan Yurachek, Marshall |
28 |
| Taywan Taylor, Western Kentucky |
28 |
| Gabe Marks, Washington State |
27 |
| Calvin Ridley, Alabama |
26 |
| Phil Mayhue, Memphis |
26 |
| Al Riles, UL Lafayette |
26 |
| Drew Morgan, Arkansas |
25 |
| Ken Golladay, Northern Illinois |
25 |
| Drew Wolitarsky, Minnesota |
24 |
| Richie James, Middle Tennessee |
24 |
| Evan Engram, Mississippi |
23 |
| Jamire Jordan, Fresno State |
23 |
| Daikiel Shorts Jr., West Virginia |
23 |
| Anthony Miller, Memphis |
23 |
| Courtland Sutton, SMU |
23 |
| Steven Sims Jr., Kansas |
22 |
| KeeSean Johnson, Fresno State |
21 |
| Jesus Wilson, Florida State |
21 |
Dynamic Duo
Anthony Wint and
Treyvon Williams have combined for 201 total tackles this season. Wint ranks No. 7 in the conference and No. 35 nationally in tackles per game (8.9), while Williams is No. 2 in the conference and No. 21 in the nation (9.4).
100-Yard Rusher
Junior
Alex Gardner notched his ninth 100-yard game, registering 119 yards on 14 carries versus Marshall. The nine 100-yard games rank first in the FIU record books for the most 100-yard games by a Panther.
Wint Racking Up the Tackles
Junior
Anthony Wint broke into the top 10 in career tackles at FIU last game (234 - 9th). The starting linebacker is currently second on the team in tackles this season (98) and has collected double-digit tackles in five games in 2016.
Taylor in the FIU Record Books
Senior
Austin Taylor enters Saturday's game ranked in the school's top 10 in career points (237 – 3rd), career field goals made (45 – 2nd), career field goal percentage (73.8 - 2nd), most PATs made (102 - 3rd) and PAT percentage (93.6 - 2nd).
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For the latest information on Panthers football, follow us on Twitter, @FIUFootball, and check out
Pete Pelegrin's in-depth coverage of FIU Athletics on his official blog, The Prowl, at
www.FIUSports.com.
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2016 FIU Football Schedule
Sept. 1 INDIANA – L, 13-34
Sept. 9 MARYLAND – L, 14-41
Sept. 17 at UMass – L, 13-21
Sept. 24 UCF – L, 14-53
Oct. 1 FLORIDA ATLANTIC* - W, 33-31
Oct. 8 at UTEP* – W, 35-21
Oct. 15 at Charlotte* - W, 27-26
Oct. 22 LOUISIANA TECH – L, 24-44
Oct. 29 MIDDLE TENNESSEE* - L, 35-42
Nov. 5 at WKU* - L, 21-49
Nov. 19 MARSHALL* - W, 31-14
Nov. 26 at Old Dominion* [ESPN3]; 3:30 p.m.
* denotes Conference USA Games
Home games at Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium are capitalized and bolded;
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About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including FIU Arena and Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium.
About FIU:
Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. It is a public research university with colleges and schools that offer more than 180 bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU contributes $8.9 billion each year to the local economy. FIU is Worlds Ahead in finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded over 200,000 degrees and enrolls more than 54,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell, FIU@I-75, and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU also supports artistic and cultural engagement through its three museums: the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, the Wolfsonian-FIU, and the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has over 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.
